Questions On Morality (Prison Inmates & Natural Disasters)

I have a few questions about morality. Today, I was reading an article on the Bloomberg website about the impending danger approaching the United States in the form of Hurricane Irma. It was discussing the treatment received by prison inmates during natural disasters, more specifically hurricanes. It appears that the premium placed upon a human life ends when it comes to prison inmates. Therefore, it becomes a question about morality.

Many inmates are not evacuated resulting from the logistical “nightmare” it could become, namely financial costs to the public. States often use the prison inmates to fill sandbags for the public at no cost. Conversely, the inmates also receive no form of payment for the services rendered. In addition, the inmates usually remain in facilities whose physical infrastructures cannot accommodate even the minimal basic human rights and the quality of living is less than substandard. This is basically the treatment of second class citizens. In some cases, it is far less.

With this is in mind, is it morally and ethically right to refrain from relocating prison inmates during the event of natural disasters? Does a prison sentence remove the classification of being human? If so, whose right is it to revoke this classification?

It’s interesting that you bring this up because I had just recently read an article that quoted the Sheriff of a city in Florida saying that any sexual predator or otherwise violent criminal who shows up to a shelter will be promptly arrested. I am normally a tough on crime type of gal but this seemed kind of wrong to me.

A troubling barometer of our commitment to humanity and our willingness to have a humane plan of action in cases like this. Prisons are already hellholes. No need to underscore the point by reducing humanity to worthlessness. A thoughtful post, Sean.

Welcome To The Official Website For Sean Mungin Ministries

Sean Mungin Ministries is a ministry whose vision is to enhance the daily lives of Christians by ministering to the needs of the whole person: spiritually, mentally, and physically. The purpose of Sean Mungin Ministries is to enhance the daily intimate relationship between God and people that is based upon a reflection of everyday life and how God teaches us to respond in moments of adversity and failure, resulting in daily victorious living.

Kingdom Community

Kingdom-minded people live everyday life according to Kingdom principles. This means their lifestyles are founded upon the belief that the love of God transcends every cultural, racial, socio-economical, political and ideological belief conceived within the hearts and minds of humanity. This is why we believe in teaching others to: Love God...love people...